Meet the Travel Companies that Are Saving the World: World Savers Finalists

Since 2007, Condé Nast Traveler has handed out our World Savers Awards to travel companies that are powerful forces of change within their industries. We'll announce this year's winners in our September issue, but over the next few weeks, we'll introduce you to all of the finalists.

Since 2007, Condé Nast Traveler has handed out our World Savers Awards to travel companies that are powerful forces of change within their industries. These are companies and hotel properties that contribute positively to local communities, that are conscious of the environment, that even protect wildlife. We'll announce this year's winners in our September issue, but over the next few weeks, we'll introduce you to all of the finalists, starting today with standouts in disaster relief and conservation—because no matter who wins, they're all worth knowing about the next time you travel.

New Orleans, Louisiana

about the company: A modern, minimalist 1,193-room New Orleans hotel, minutes from the French Quarter and adjacent to the Superdome.

how it's giving back: After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, a line a half-mile long stretched from the Superdome to the hotel as thousands of refugees moved through the property to a bus evacuation site. It reopened in 2011 after a $275 million redesign, symbolizing the rebirth of New Orleans. More recently, the hotel rebuilt the garden at Langston Hughes Elementary School and is landscaping the New Orleans Cancer Survivors’ Plaza.

one more surprise: The hotel donated $300,000 to help build two homes sponsored by Brad Pitt’s Make it Right project (pictured) in the city’s hard-hit lower ninth ward.

Tokyo, Japan

about the company: The elegant Grand Hyatt Tokyo—think mood lighting, mahogany furnishings—rated high enough on our Readers' Choice Survey to make the 2012 Gold List.

How it's Giving Back: Following the 2011 tsunami, Grand Hyatt Tokyo housed and fed fresh meals to more than 370 evacuees. With the help of other Hyatt properties around the world, the hotel raised more than $98,000 for relief efforts by the Japan Red Cross.

one more surprise: In addition to reducing energy consumption by 25 percent since 2006, the hotel participates in an innovative environment and health initiative. Ecocap, a Japanese nonprofit, collects plastic water bottle caps and sells them to recycling facilities. The money goes toward polio vaccines. By 2011, the hotel had recycled a total of 691,400 collected caps—the equivalent of 864 vaccines.

about the company: More than 3,800 properties in 91 countries, that embrace the principles of responsible business.

how it's giving back: Hilton Worldwide's proprietary LightStay system tracks sustainability performance across the entire portfolio of properties. These hotels reported 19 percent waste reduction in 2010, as well as 3.8 percent decrease in water use and a 6.6 percent decrease in energy use—the equivalent of filling 1,018 Olympic swimming pools and powering 19,302 homes.

about the company: 28 opulent resorts with locally influenced designs, spanning Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Oberoi’s Gurgaon in New Delhi made the_ Condé Nast Traveler_ Hot List in 2012, and its Agra property was on the 2012 Gold List.

How it's giving back: More than 80 percent of waste water is treated and recycled through Oberoi's conversation program. In addition, several hotels have installed rainwater harvesting systems.

one more surprise: Each Oberoi hotel supports local projects, such as a care center (St. Catherine’s Welfare Society for Destitute Children, at right) for more than 200 impoverished children affected by HIV in Mumbai.

about the company: Holland America has a 15-ship fleet that offers more than 500 sailings annually.

how it's giving back: Holland aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 20 percent between 2005 and 2015.

one more Surprise: Since 2010, the cruise line reduced the total quantity of solid waste generated by the fleet by five percent, and increased the total quantity of recyclable materials generated by five percent.